A method to resolve the nuclear activity in galaxies, as applied to NGC1358

Nuclear regions of galaxies generally host a mixture of components with different exitation, composition, and kinematics. Derivation of emission line ratios and kinematics could then be misleading, if due correction is not made for the limited spatial and spectral resolutions of the observations. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate, with application to a long slit spectrum of the Seyfert2 galaxy NGC1358, how line intensities and velocities, together with modelling and knowledge of the point spread function, may be used to resolve the differing structures. In the situation outlined, the observed kinematics differs for different spectral lines. From the observed intensity and velocity distributions of a number of spectral lines and with some reasonable assumptions to diminish the number of free parameters, the true line ratios and velocity structures may be deduced. A preliminary solution for the nuclear structure of NGC1358 is obtained, involving a nuclear point source and an emerging outflow of high excitation with a post shock cloud, as well as a nuclear emission line disk rotating in the potential of a stellar bulge and expressing a radial exitation gradient. The method results in a likely scenario for the nuclear structure of NGC1358. For definitive results an extrapolation of the method to two dimensions combined with the use of integral field spectroscopy will generally be necessary.Comment: to appear in proceedings for the IAU 277th Symposium, Editors: C. Carignan, F. Combes, K. Freema

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Birth weight and risk of renal cell cancer

Birth weight and risk of renal cell cancer.BackgroundThe prenatal period has been suggested to be important for future cancer risk. Conditions in utero are also important for the development of the kidney, and birth weight, a marker of fetal nutrition and growth, is linearly correlated with the number of nephrons and the structural and functional unit of the kidney. An association between birth weight and renal cell cancer, the major form of kidney cancer, is biologically plausible, but has never been studied.MethodsWe conducted a population-based, case-controlled study in Sweden of men and women aged 20 to 79 years. We collected self-reported information on categories of birth weight from 648 patients with newly diagnosed renal cell cancer and from 900 frequency-matched control subjects. We used unconditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as estimates of the relative risks.ResultsAn increased risk of renal cell cancer was observed among men with a birth weight of ≥3500 g (adjusted OR = 1.3, 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.8) compared with men with a birth weight between 3000 and 3499 g, especially in the subgroup without hypertension or diabetes (adjusted OR = 1.8, 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.6). No clear association among men with a birth weight <3000 g or among women was found.ConclusionsOur study shows that conditions in utero, reflected by birth weight, might affect the risk of renal cell cancer in adulthood. It is unclear why no association was found among women. Further studies, based on weight from birth certificates, are needed to clarify this relationship

On a method to resolve the nuclear activity in galaxies as applied to the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC1358

Nuclear regions of galaxies generally host a mixture of components with different exitation, composition, and kinematics. Derivation of emission line ratios and kinematics could then be misleading, if due correction is not made for the limited spatial and spectral resolutions of the observations.The aim of this paper is to demonstrate, with application to a long slit spectrum of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1358, how line intensities and velocities, together with modelling and knowledge of the point spread function, may be used to resolve the differing structures. In the situation outlined above, the observed kinematics differs for different spectral lines. From the observed intensity and velocity distributions of a number of spectral lines and with some reasonable assumptions to diminish the number of free parameters, the true line ratios and velocity structures may be deduced. A preliminary solution for the nuclear structure of NGC 1358 is obtained, involving a nuclear point source and an emerging outflow of high exitation, as well as a nuclear emission line disk rotating in the potential of a stellar bulge and expressing a radial excitation gradient. The method results in a likely scenario for the nuclear structure of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1358. For definitive results an extrapolation of the method to two dimensions combined with the use of integral field spectroscopy will generally be necessary.Comment: Accepted for Publication in The Astrophysical Journa

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Chest X-rays are less sensitive than multiple breath washout examinations when it comes to detecting early cystic fibrosis lung disease

Aim: Annual chest X-ray is recommended as routine surveillance to track cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of chest X-rays to track CF lung disease. Methods: Children at Gothenburg\u27s CF centre who underwent chest X-rays, multiple breath washouts and chest computed tomography examinations between 1996 and 2016 were included in the study. Chest X-rays were interpreted with Northern Score (NS). We compared NS to lung clearance index (LCI) and structural lung damage measured by computed tomography using a logistic regression model. Results: A total of 75 children were included over a median period of 13\ua0years (range: 3.0-18.0\ua0years). The proportion of children with abnormal NS was significantly lower than the proportion of abnormal LCI up to the age of 4\ua0years (p\ua0&lt;\ua00.05). A normal NS and a normal LCI at age 6\ua0years were associated with a median (10-90th percentile) total airway disease of 1.8% (0.4-4.7%) and bronchiectasis of 0.2% (0.0-1.5%). Conclusion: Chest X-rays were less sensitive than multiple breath washout examinations to detect early CF lung disease. The combined results from both methods can be used as an indicator to perform chest computed tomography less frequently

Effects of Soil Compaction and Organic Carbon Content on Preferential Flow in Loamy Field Soils

Abstract: Preferential flow and transport through macropores affect plant water use efficiency and enhance leaching of agrochemicals and the transport of colloids, thereby increasing the risk for contamination of groundwater resources. The effects of soil compaction, expressed in terms of bulk density (BD), and organic carbon (OC) content on preferential flow and transport were investigated using 150 undisturbed soil cores sampled from 15 × 15–m grids on two field sites. Both fields had loamy textures, but one site had significantly higher OC content. Leaching experiments were conducted in each core by applying a constant irrigation rate of 10 mm h−1 with a pulse application of tritium tracer. Five percent tritium mass arrival times and apparent dispersivities were derived from each of the tracer breakthrough curves and correlated with texture, OC content, and BD to assess the spatial distribution of preferential flow and transport across the investigated fields. Soils from both fields showed strong positive correlations between BD and preferential flow. Interestingly, the relationships between BD and tracer transport characteristics were markedly different for the two fields, although the relationship between BD and macroporosity was nearly identical. The difference was likely caused by the higher contents of fines and OC at one of the fields leading to stronger aggregation, smaller matrix permeability, and a more pronounced pipe-like pore system with well-aligned macropores

Endovascular repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: an early experience with intermediate-term follow-up

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this study was to report an initial experience with the endovascular repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Complications and intermediate-term morphologic changes were identified with the intent of altering patient selection and device design. Methods: Endografts were placed into 25 patients at high-risk for conventional surgical repair over a 3 ½–year period. Devices were customized on the basis of preoperative imaging information. Follow-up computed tomography scans were obtained at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and yearly thereafter. Additional interventions occurred in the setting of endoleaks, migration, and aneurysm growth. Results: The overall 30-day mortality rate was 20% (12.5% for elective cases; 33% for emergent cases). There were 3 conversions to open repair. Neurologic deficits developed in 3 patients; 1 insult resulted in permanent paraplegia. Neurologic deficits were associated with longer endografts (P = .019). Three endoleaks required treatment, and 1 fatal rupture of the thoracic aneurysm treated occurred 6 months after the initial repair. Migrations were detected in 4 patients. The maximal aneurysm size decreased yearly by 9.15% (P = .01) or by 13.5% (P = .0005) if patients with endoleaks (n = 3 patients) were excluded. Both the proximal and distal neck dilated slightly over the course of follow-up (P = .019 and P = .001, respectively). The length of the proximal neck was a significant predictor of the risk for endoleakage (P = .02). Conclusion: The treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms with an endovascular approach is feasible and may, in some patients, offer the best means of therapy. Early complications were primarily related to device design and patient selection. All aneurysms without endoleaks decreased in size after treatment. Late complications were associated with changing aneurysm morphologic features and device migration. The morphologic changes remain somewhat unpredictable; however, alterations in device design may result in improved fixation and more durable aneurysm exclusion. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:147-56.